Pessary



Feb. 16, 1937. F. CAMPBELL PESSARY Filed NOV. 27, 1935 EZ. dampbe/ZL ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a pessary, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which may be easily and quickly applied or removed by a person un- 5 skilled in. the medical profession and when applied will retain its proper position regardless of the movements of the wearer and will readily adapt itself to the vaginal passage should the latter be out of shape and thus contact with 10 the walls thereof and its engagement with the womb is such that irritation will be reduced to a minimum and strangulation, or a retarding of circulation be prevented.

With these and other objects in view, this inl5 vention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the application of the pessary.

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the pessary. 25 Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the same.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modification of my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates a comparatively thin diaphragm formed integrally with a retaining member 2 of annular formation projecting beyond opposite faces of the diaphragm and having its edges curved inwardly, as shown at 3. The diaphragm and retaining member 2 are constructed of any suitable elastic material preferably rubber and the retaining member has sufficient rigidity for supporting the diaphragm within the vaginal passage 4 with the diaphragm positioned in 40 front of the mouth 5 of the womb 6. The periphery of the retaining member 2 bears against the walls of the vaginal passage and one of the flanges 3 contacts the womb about the mouth and has a gripping action thereon. Thus it will be seen that when the device is properly applied it will retain its position of closing the womb regardless of the movements of the wearer due to the retaining member 2 bearing against the walls of the vaginal passage with sufficient force to prevent slippage and further one of the flanges 3 bearing and gripping the mouth of the womb. Suflicient elasticity is provided in the flanges so that the mouth of the womb is free to open and close with the flanges retaining engagement therewith.

Reinforcing gills or strips 1 may join the diaphragm with one of the flanges 3 to aid in supporting the diaphragm in proper position and giving strength to the device in entirety.

An annular heading 8 may form an integral part with the retaining member 2 and is arranged upon the outer periphery thereof for the purpose of pressing into the walls of the vaginal passage to .aid in preventing the device from assuming a misplaced position.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A pessary comprising a diaphragm of elastic material, a semielastic retaining member integral with said diaphragm and projecting beyond opposite faces thereof and having its edges curved inwardly whereby one of said edges may engage and grip a womb adjacent the mouth thereof with the retaining member in frictional contact with walls of the vaginal passage supporting the diaphragm in close proximity and closing the mouth of the womb, spaced semielastic reinforcing elements integral with the diaphragm and the retaining member and one of its flanges, and a beading formed integrally with the outer wall of the retaining member and in alignment with the diaphragm to embed in the walls of the vaginal passage.

FRANK L. CAMPBEIL. 

